Resist the Mold

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:2

The Bible tells us in Romans 12 not to be conformed to this world. But what does that mean? The J. B. Phillips translation puts it this way: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold." The idea is that we are not to pretend that we belong to the world.

We live in a world system that is spiritually bankrupt and hostile to God. John the apostle warns, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:15–16).

Sometimes as Christians, we pretend to be something we are not. But that is what the Bible says we should not do. We are children of God. So let's behave accordingly. Better yet, let's be proud of it. Let's not hide our light. Let's not be ashamed of our faith. Jesus said, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).

This world's thinking clouds our own thinking as believers. I see this happen in the church, especially when a couple is having problems in their marriage. They listen to the world's thinking that says, Why are you staying in that relationship? Just get a divorce. Yet they don't have a biblical reason for ending the marriage.

The Bible is our basis for knowing the will of God. We need to do what it says.